維摩經義記卷第四 4.71

4.71

From "Again, regarding all phenomena..." downward is the second subsection, which explains the superior Dharma offering of one of cultivation wisdom. Within this, it is divided into three clauses. The first clause explains that cultivation wisdom understands the principle and eliminates delusions. "Accord with the twelve links of dependent origination, leave behind all heterodox views, and attain the forbearance of non-arising" explains that by contemplating and penetrating the principle of dependent origination, one severs the five heterodox views and all [other] views, and attains the understanding of non-arising. The second clause, from "definitely without self and without sentient beings" downward, speaks of relying on the Dharma and not on the person, explaining that a person of cultivation wisdom attains the understanding of nominal and real [existence], and is fully endowed with the virtues of the four reliances. "Applying the mind to things without self and without sentient beings" is emptiness of nominal designation. "And regarding causes, conditions, and karmic retribution there is no contradiction or contention": precisely because of having no intrinsic nature, [things] are empty; because conditions harmonize, [things] exist; thus one accords with cause and condition without contradiction or contention. "Leaving behind all possessions of self" is understanding the emptiness of real phenomena. From "relying on the meaning" downward explains being fully endowed with the virtues of the four reliances. If discussed in order, it first explains relying on the Dharma and not relying on the person. Persons have good, evil, and indeterminate [states]; one cannot indiscriminately rely on them. The Dharma has fixed standards; one should rely on the Dharma and not on the person. Within relying on the Dharma, words have definitive and non-definitive [meanings]; therefore now, within the Dharma, one relies on the definitive Dharma and does not rely on the non-definitive Dharma. In the definitive Dharma there are both principle and teaching. Worldly sentiments cling to words and lose the meaning, unable to forget words to grasp the essential import; therefore thirdly, one relies on the meaning and does not rely on the words. Having heard of relying on the meaning, one then presumes there is a real entity of this meaning, unable to empty the mind to accord with the principle; therefore next, fourthly, one relies on wisdom (jñāna) and does not rely on clinging consciousness (vijñāna).